SOUTHPORT Trinity put last week's defeat against Caldy behind them and returned to form on Saturday with a thrilling last over victory against Sutton at the Rookery.

With conditions once again favouring the bowlers, the Rookery men were asked to bat first and made steady progress thanks largely to Kevin Murray who held things together with some typical strokeplay. Valuable contributions also came from Hodge (24) and Hall (22) but it was 11 fours and three sixes from Murray which stole the show before he was out going for one too many, caught at midwicket for a fine 88.

A big total looked on the cards with Trinity cruising at 172-5 but a hat-trick for Andrew Dodd helped the visitors take the last five wickets without a further run being added.

In reply, an early wicket each for Hall and Murray put Trinity in the driving seat and only Phil Frost (37) looked capable of winning the game for the vistors.

In fact, Frost's dismissal at 87-6 rather disappointingly signalled the end of the run chase with 20 overs still remaining.

The next 10 overs saw Sutton crawl to 102-6 with a draw looking favourite but an inspired bowling change from Hall saw 14 year old Elliot Simms given the ball and it paid dividends with immediate effect.

He trapped Dodd in front with his first ball in first team cricket and followed it up with two wickets in his next over to take Trinity to the brink of victory, Sutton faltering to 107-9.

The next seven overs saw the last pair blocking everything and so it was left to man of the match Murray to bowl the final over of the day.

Last man Foster survived the first two balls but could do nothing about the next one as his middle stump was uprooted to give Trinity their eleventh league victory of the season.